Theatrical_Muse Prompt 216 - Impossible
Impossible, I think, is a word that is highly abused in the English language, despite the wide knowledge of its actual definition. It is my own personal vices that speak in my place at the moment, but it is a fairly exasperating one, though I do tend to keep a closed mouth of it in company, as I am, admittedly, a victim of it myself.
As one may know, impossible is a word that defines the unreachable. This is not a terribly hard concept to comprehend. It is, in fact, a fairly basic word in the diverse and colourful language that we know as English. There are, after all, many other words that could mean the same thing in a more unique way.
How is it then, I ask, that the word that is so completely misconstrued?
From the view of someone who has just begun to learn the language, impossible could only mean something that has already been done, rather than what cannot be done.
But perhaps there is nothing that is quite so impossible. With the wonders of science reaching new heights with each passing year, perhaps what we think is impossible now will be quite common. Then, of course, the word will begin to define other things. Things that in a future time will seem unattainable until we cross that boundary, along with many others. Following along this path, however, the word loses its initial meaning altogether. What use is there for the word at all, then?
Conversations on this line have usually degraded to the mocking of my hopeful ideas, but I have always been a ceaseless optimist for the progress of mankind. I have not found any immediately apparent difficulties of that opinion, as what else is there for man to do but hope? Surely there is no better impetus.
In the meantime, I shall be content with crossing out the definition of 'impossible' out of my dictionary and replacing it with the words "See the word 'possible.'" Perhaps this time, Mrs. Hudson will find it amusing instead of discarding the entire tome as she has done so many times before. She has not been very good-humoured as of late, and I am beginning to wonder if she is in need of a holiday.
Dr. John Watson
Sherlock Holmes
380 words
As one may know, impossible is a word that defines the unreachable. This is not a terribly hard concept to comprehend. It is, in fact, a fairly basic word in the diverse and colourful language that we know as English. There are, after all, many other words that could mean the same thing in a more unique way.
How is it then, I ask, that the word that is so completely misconstrued?
From the view of someone who has just begun to learn the language, impossible could only mean something that has already been done, rather than what cannot be done.
But perhaps there is nothing that is quite so impossible. With the wonders of science reaching new heights with each passing year, perhaps what we think is impossible now will be quite common. Then, of course, the word will begin to define other things. Things that in a future time will seem unattainable until we cross that boundary, along with many others. Following along this path, however, the word loses its initial meaning altogether. What use is there for the word at all, then?
Conversations on this line have usually degraded to the mocking of my hopeful ideas, but I have always been a ceaseless optimist for the progress of mankind. I have not found any immediately apparent difficulties of that opinion, as what else is there for man to do but hope? Surely there is no better impetus.
In the meantime, I shall be content with crossing out the definition of 'impossible' out of my dictionary and replacing it with the words "See the word 'possible.'" Perhaps this time, Mrs. Hudson will find it amusing instead of discarding the entire tome as she has done so many times before. She has not been very good-humoured as of late, and I am beginning to wonder if she is in need of a holiday.
Dr. John Watson
Sherlock Holmes
380 words